AUTHOR VISIT AT DAVIS ELEMENTARY, Grinnell, Iowa

I enjoyed my visit with the third and fourth graders at Davis School very much. Many thanks to librarian Allison Pease for arranging it! I was impressed by how well the students paid attention and by their enthusiastic response to my presentation. Before my visit they all got a handout, "Fun Facts about Caroline Arnold", which was a good way to get them prepared.

My visit to Grinnell was organized around the celebration of Edith Renfrow Smith and her family and the dedication of a new building named after her. Edith Renfrow Smith was the first Black woman to graduate from Grinnell College (1937) and at the sprightly age of 110, is the oldest living graduate. It was meaningful to me to know that Davis School is the same school that Edith Renfrow attended as a child. It was thrilling for me to get a chance to meet her at the celebration around the dedication of Renfrow Hall. I'm sure the kids at Davis enjoyed cheering for her as she passed by in the parade on Friday. My husband and I watched with a crowd of people downtown.

Last spring author Monique Shore read her book about Edith Renfrow, No One is Better Than You, to the students at Davis Elementary. I played a small part in the creation of the book, giving advice to Monique based on my experience as a children's book writer. I am honored to be acknowledged in the credits of the book. The book is available from the Pioneer Bookshop in Grinnell and from Amazon.

With thanks to Librarian Allison Pease for sharing these photos of "Measuring Your Wingspan," a favorite activity in which students can find out what bird they could be if they could fly. Most third graders are red tailed hawks.